Rotary printing and numbering machine



Dec. 16,1941. A. M. HALLEY ROTARY PRINTING AND NUMBERING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 8, 1940 ANGUS ZUR YHALL v M ///s ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 16, 1941 ROTARY PRINTING AND NUMBERI NG' MACHINE Angus Murray Halley, Moseley, Birmingham,

England, assignor to James Halley & Sons Lim ited, West Bromwich, England Application May 8, 1940, Serial No. 333,970

In Great Britain May 24, 1939 3 Claims.

This invention relates to rotary printing and numbering machines and more particularly is concerned with rotary printing or numbering machines which embody mechanism whereby, on the mis-feed of a sheet during the running of the machine, the printing cylinder, or its equivalent such as the numerator head or carrier in the case of a numbering machine, is automatically moved from the normal or printing positioninto a non-printing position, and is returned automatically to the printing position when a correct or normal feed of thesheets is resumed.

The present invention has for its object to provide new or improved andsimplified means or mechanism whereby the printing cylinder or equivalent of a rotarylprinting machine may be moved from the printing position to a non-printing position and restored thereto during the running of the machine, the operation of lthe'said mechanism being controlled by the sheet detector mechanism embodied in the machine, the invention being especially applicable to machines wherein the printing cylinder, or its equivalent, is mounted in bearings carried by a pivoted part of the machine framing. l

The invention will be further and more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein it is illustrated in its application to a sheet numbering machine of known type embodying sheet feed detector mechanism such as is hereinafter more particularly referred to and wherein the numerator printing devices are mounted on a shaft which extends longitudinally across the machine, its ends being supported in bearings provided in the upper part of the respective side frames or standards of the machine, the said upper parts being so pivoted to the ,adjacent stationary parts of the frames as to permit them to be turned upwardly thereon for removing the numerator mechanism from the printing position relative to the impression cylinder.

Figure 1 of the drawings represents in side elevation and Figure 2 in plan one convenient embodiment of the invention, so much only of the ordinary machine being shown as is necessary tothe understanding of the invention.

Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 1 illustrating'a modification in the construction and arrangement of certain of the parts hereinafter described.

Figure 4 is a side elevation of the machine viewed from the opposite side to Figures 1 and 3, and illustrating a convenient construction of sheet detector mechanism through the medium of which the operation of the mechanism provided in accordance with the present invention is automatically controlled. V

Figure 5 is a plan showing certain parts of the said sheet detector mechanism. 4

Like numerals of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in the several figuresof the drawings. Y I v Describing first the embodiment of the inven-. tion illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the references 6 and 1 denote therespective side frame members of the machine and 6 the pivoted upper part of the side member 6, a similar pivoted part being provided on the sidemember'l, the said pivoted upper parts being furnished with bearings for the spindle 8 on which a disc-like member 9; or a plurality of such members is mounted, the said member, or members,rcarrying the numerator devices (not shown)' as' is well understood.

The. pivoted upper portions of the side frames 6 and I and the parts carried thereby are omitted from theplan, Figure 2. i The pivoted upper part6 of the side frame 6 has attached thereto adjacent the side thereof remote from its pivot 6 a connecting rod ill, the said connecting rod Ill depending from the pivoted upper part 63 of the side frame and its lower end having connection with a lever-like member ll, mounted in suitable location on the fixed part 6 of the said frame.

The attachment of the connecting rod ID to the lever-like member II is made at apart in termediate the fulcrum thereof and a roller ll which is mounted on the said lever-like member,

the fulcrum of the lever-like member being constituted by the end of the shaft l2 projecting from the outer side face of the frame member 6, the said shaft l2 extending transversely between and turning in bearings in the respective side frame members 6 and "l,"its opposite end projecting from the outer side face of the frame member 1 and providing a fulcrum for a similar lever-like member ll which is connected 'torthe pivoted upper part of the side frame 1 by a connecting rod similar to the connecting rod I0.

The roller I l projects laterally from the outer face of the lever-like member II and is located over and rests on the periphery of a disc 13 which is mounted and capable of rotation on a'fix'ed stud [4 provided on the side frame 6, the centre of the said stud being preferably in vertical align,-. ment with the centre of the roller I l The periphery of this disc l3 rotatably mounted on the side frame 6 is furnished with an arcuate pivoted upper section 6* of the frame 6 to which its upper end is connected (and also the corresponding pivoted section I at the other side of the" machine, since these pivoted upper sections of the side frame members are interconnected by the transverse spindle 8 whereon the numerator devices are mounted and through the medium of their respective connections with the transverse shaft I2) in the requisite position for permitting the performance of the printing operation on the sheets passing over the impression cylinder of the machine, which cylinder is indicated by the dotted circle I in Figure 1, and this position, which is the normal position, is maintainedrso long as sheets are being correctly fed to the printing position on the impression cylinder I5.

If the said recessed disc I3 be turned to a position in which the recess IE1: is no longer located below the roller II of the lever-like member I! the said lever-like member is caused to rise as is indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1 thereby effecting the raising of the connecting rod I9 and therethrough the turning of the pivoted upper parts of the side frame members 6 and I into such position that the disc 9, or plurality. of such discs (or a printing cylinder), mounted on the shaft 8 carried by the said pivoted sections will occupy the non-printing position and remain therein until the recessed portion Ifi of the rotatable disc I3 is again brought below the roller I I of the lever-like member I I.

The requisite operations of the rotatable disc I3 for moving the peripheral recess I3 therein into coincidence with the roller II a of the leverlike member II and removing it from below the said roller are effected automatically in the running of the machine.

For the purpose of effecting these automatic operations the said disc I3 is furnished on the outwardly presented face thereof with a pair of projectingstuds marked I3 and IB respectively the said studs being disposed diametrically and at equal distances on opposite sides of the centre of the disc I3, one of the said studs, the one denoted by the reference I3 being located somewhat nearer the recess I?! in the periphery of the disc I3 than the other stud I3, and with one or other of these studsa rockable pawl I6 is adapted to co-act according to the position to which the said pawl I6 is moved through the medium of its connection with sheet detector mechanism as for example the sheet detector mechanism represented in Figures 4 and 5 and hereinafter more particularly described with reference to the said figures.

In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 and 2 by mechanism the operation of which is controlled through the action of the sheet detector mechanism.

The said rockable pawl i6 is mounted on a lever 2%) fulcrumed on a stud suitably located on the lower part of the side frame 6, the said lever 26, which is hereinafter referred to as the pawl carrying lever, being provided on one side thereof with a roller 28* so positioned intermediate its ends as to come under the action of a cam 2I carried by a longitudinally extending cam shaft 22 so geared to the driving shaft of the machine as to make one complete revolution per cycle of the machine.

The connection of the rockable pawl IE to the pawl carrying lever 20 may be effected by bifurcating the end 26 of the said lever at which the pawl ispivoted, the pivoted end of the pawl being reduced in thickness to fit between the said forked end portion 26 of the lever, and the shouldered parts formed by reducing the end of the pawl I6 serve to limit the angle through which it can be turned by its link connection with the rocking arm I8 aforesaid.

Briefly the operation of the mechanism described is as follows:

In the initial setting of the parts the recessed disc I3 turnably mounted on the side frame 6 of the machine is so disposed that its peripheral recess I3 is located below the roller II on the lever-like member II which operates the connecting rod It! attached to the pivoted upper section wi of the side frame 5, wherein a bearing for one end of the shaft 8 of the numerator carrying disc 9 or equivalent printing device is provided, and the said numerator carrying disc or the like in this position of the said recessed disc I3 is in proper printing position.

When the machine is running normally and a sheet is fed, by a tape or other feed, to the impression cylinder I5 on each consecutive cycle of operations, the sheet detector mechanism, which may as aforesaid be of the construction hereinafter described with reference to Figures 4 and 5 (or of any ordinary or suitable construction adapted on the failure of the sheet feed to effect the requisite motion of the rocking arm I8), by its control of the said rocking arm I8 which is linked through the member I! with the rockable pawl l6 mounted on the pawl carrying lever 23 will, as the roller 20* on the said pawl carrying lever 20 comes on to the fall 2I of the continuously rotating cam 2| on which it bears, cause the rockable pawl I6 to remain in such a position namely that shown in full lines in Figure 1 that its free end is in alignment with but does not make contact with the stud Iii on the recessed disc I3 which stud lies nearer to the recess I3 in the disc than does the other stud I-3, but as the pawl I6 does not in this position of the disc I3 make contact with the said stud I3 the disc remains stationary so long as normal running and the feed of sheets continues, and the numerator carrying disc 9 or printing cylinder, or its equivalent, is not moved from the proper printing position.

If however a mis-feeding of a sheet occurs, the sheet detector mechanism when, in the continuing motion of the machine, the roller 29 on the pawl carrying lever 20 next comes on to the fall 2 I of the continuously rotating cam 2|, so acts on the rocking arm I8 controlled by the said detector mechanism, as to turn the arm I8 through such an angle that the rockable pawl I6 linked thereto is brought, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1, into alignment with they stud I 3 on the recessed disc I3, and when, by the motion of the cam 2 l,the pawl carrying lever 20 turns upwardly, the pawl I6 so acts on the said stud I3 as to turn the recessed disc I3 througha suflicient angle to remove the recess I3 therein from below the roller II of the lever II to which the connecting rod I II from the part 6 carrying the numerator disc, printing cylinder, or the like, is connected, th connecting'rod I being thereby raised and moving the said numerator disc, printing cylinder, or its equivalent to the non-printing position indicated by the dot and dash lines in Figure 1, in which position it is retained until the disc I3 is again turned in the direction proper to bring the recess I3 therein below the roller II a of the lever-like member II on which the said disc acts, when the said leverlike member turns downwardly and the connecting rod I0 brings the numerator disc 9 or printing cylinder, or equivalent part, back into the correct position for printing.

The automatic movement of the recessed disc I3 back to its initial position on the restoration of the feed of the sheets is effected by the action of the detector mechanism on the rocking arm I8 turning the rockable pawl I 6, at the appropriate stage in the motions of the parts, into the position in which it again comes into alignment with the stud I3 on the said disc, and since this stud has by the movement of the disc I3 which takes place on the failure of the feed, been brought to such position that the pawl I6 makes contact therewith on the rising motion of the pawl carrying lever 20, the requisite turning motion is given to the disc I3 for restoring it to its initial position below the roller II of the lever II on which roller the disc I3 acts, and the roller drops into the recess thereby effecting the return of the numerator disc 9 or printing cylinder, or the like, to the correct printing position.

It will be appreciated that the construction and arrangement of the parts of the mechanism described may be varied Without departing from the invention.

- For example, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings, the position of the studs I3 and I3 relative to the centre of the disc I3 may be reversed in which case the angular motions performed by the rockable pawl I6 and the arm I8 whereby the pawl is moved for bringing it into the positions in which it acts on one or other of the said studs I3 and I3 will be in the opposite direction from that of the similar parts in the first described arrangement.

Further in this modification the arm I8 is designed to act directly on the pawl I I instead of through the medium of a link connection therewith, the upper end of the said arm being slotted as at I8 to engage with a laterally projecting stud I6 on the pawl I6, and the said arm is under the control of a spring I8 whereby it is retained in the position which it occupies relative to the stud I3 when the machine is running with correct feeding of the sheets.

A modified construction of the pawl I6 and lever 20 whereon it is mounted is also illustrated in the said Figure 3, the pawl I6 being designed for mounting on one side of the lever 20 instead of in a bifurcated end thereon and being furnished with a heel piece IB adapted to contact with projections 20 and 20 provided on the lever 28 for limiting its angular turning motion in one or the other direction.

In either of the arrangements described the lever may perform its rising and falling motions under the control of a spring, such as the spring 24 shown in Figure 3.

Suitable sheet detector mechanism through the medium of which the operations of the mechanisms described may be automatically controlled in the running of the machine is illustrated in Figures 4 and 5. r

The said sheet detector mechanism embodies a member 25, hereinafter referred to as the latch member, which is so disposed in relation to the periphery of the impression cylinder I5 as to come under the action of the sheets which are fed to the said cylinder 'byany ordinary and suitable sheet feed mechanism, not shown. The said latch member rests on a bar 26 fixed to the machine framing and has on the underside thereof a projection 25 which, when no sheets are being fed on to the impression cylinder, coacts with the said bar 26 to prevent motion of parts of the mechanism hereinafter described. 7

The latch member 25 is pivotally attached to a lever arm 21 integral with a second lever arm 2'I which in turn has pivotal connection with the upper end of a connecting rod 28 the lower end whereof is pivoted to the arm 29 of a triple armed lever-like member fulcrumed at 29 on the side frame 1 of the machine, the other arms of the said lever-like member being denoted by the references 29 and 29 respectively.

The arm 29 of the triple armed lever-like meme her is connected by a spring 29 to a fixed point on the side frame of the machine, the said spring so operating as to tend to tu rnthe arm29 in an upward direction, but such upward motion is prevented so long as the projection 25? of the latch 25 remains in its latching engagement with the bar 26, that is to say, so long as no sheets are being fed to the impression cylinder I 5.

The unpivoted end of the arm 29 is furnished with a roller 29 which bears on a cam 30 carried by the main shaft 23 and which consequently rotates continuously during the running of the machine, while the third arm 29? is in operative connection with a bar 3| mounted and adapted for a sliding motion in a guide block 32 fixedon the side of the machine, the said bar 3I carrying a projection 3| which in one direction of the motion of the bar acts on and effects the turning motion of a rod 33 depending from and pivoted on a lever 34 fulcrumed on the side frame, the turning motion of the said depending bar being effected against the restraining action of a spring 35 suitably anchored thereto and to the lever 34. The rod 33 is furnished at its upper end with an extension 33 which co-acts with a projection 3 I on the lever 34 to maintain the rod in the vertical position under the action of the controlling spring 35. v

The lever 34 whereon the depending rod 33 is pivoted is provided at its unpivoted end with a roller 3 I which comes under the action of a cam 36 mounted on the main shaft 23 and continuously rotating therewith, and when the rise of the said cam 36 is travelling over the roller 34 the lever 34 is depressed thereby depressing the pivoted rod 33.

The lower end of the said rod 33 is, when the said rod is in its vertical position, located directly over a rod 3! which is adapted to slide between guides such as the projections 38 on the side frame I of the machine, the said rod 31 having pivotal connection at its lower end with a cranklike arm I9 on the shaft I9 the other end whereof carries the arm I 8 which effects the movement of the rockable pawl lite one or other of the positions in which it may act on the projecting studs l3 or 3 on the disc l3 hereinbefcre referred to and for the purpose specified.

The operation of the sheet detector mechanism described is as follows:

In the normal running of the machine each sheet which is fed to the impression cylinder i5 acts in the manner well understood to turn the latch member 25 to a sufficient extent to release the projection 25 thereon from its engagement with the fixed bar 26, and when this release is eiTected such relative turning of the lever arms 21 and 2! can take place as will permit the connecting rod 28 to move upwardly when the roller 29 on the arm 29 of the triple-lever armed member passes on to the fall 33* of the cam 38 and this is timed to take place in synchrony with the release of the latch member 25.

On the turning of the triple arm lever during the upward movement of the connecting rod 23 the arm 29 thereof draws the slidable bar 3| in the direction proper to bring the projection 35 thereon against the pivoted rod 33 depending from the lever 31, thereby turning this rod, against the action of the spring 35 from out of alignment with the rod 3-1 on the crank-like arm l9 on the shaft 19, and consequently the rod 3'! is not acted on by the rod 33 when the rise of the cam 36 depresses the lever 34 from the position I which it occupies when the fall of the said cam 36 is passing over the roller 35 on the said lever, and as no motion is communicated to the shaft I9 and the arm IB on the opposite end thereof,

the rockable pawl [5 remains in the position in which it is presented to the stud I3 on the rotatable disc 13.

When the fall of the cam 36 again comes on to the roller 34 the depending rod 33 is brought back into alignment with the rod 3'! but is again communicating the requisite motion to the lever arm 29 for effecting the sliding of the bar 3! in the directionproper for deflecting the rod 33 from alignment with the rod 3?, and hence when the rise of the cam 36 comes on to the roller 34 of the lever 34 and the depending rod 33 is depressed it acts on the rod 3'! and the shaft I9 is turned and effects the motion of the arm [8 at its other end in the direction for bringing the rockable pawl l6 into the position in which it can act on the stud l3 when the lever 20 is raised by the cam 2 l, the action of the said pawl 16 on the stud l 3 turning the disc l3 into the position in which it acts to raise the numerator disc 9 (or the like) from the normal printing position.

As long as no sheets are fed the pawl it simply oscillates to the positions it can assume relative to the studs li and I3, but immediately the sheet feed is restored. the rockable pawl l 6 on the following rising movement of the cam 29 so acts on the stud 53 as to turn the disc I3 back to the position in which the recess it comes under the roller i i when the lever I l falls and thereby lets down the connecting rod l0 and parts connected therewith so as to bring the numerator disc (or the. like) back to the printing position, and the machine then. continues to operate normally until the next cessation of the feed of the sheets.

7 It is tobe understood that the inventionis not limited to the precise details in construction or design of the parts described and represented in the drawings as the same may be'varied without departing from the essential or characteristic features of the invention.

7 What I claim is:

1. In a rotary printing machine, a driving member, a cam adapted to be shifted on its axis between two positions, a cam-shifting means actuated by said drivingv member, said cam-shifting means being controlled by the feed of sheets to move between two positions and being actuated when in one position to shift said cam into one position, said cam-shifting means being actuated when in its'other position to shift said cam into its-other positiomsaid cam-shifting meansbeing moved into position to shift said cam into one position on cessation of normal feed and being moved into position to shift said cam into-its other position on resumption of normal feed, and a movable member bearing against said cam that throws off the impression when movedinonedirection and throws on the impression when moved in the opposite direction, the movement of said member to throw off the impression being produced by the shifting of the cam-into one position, and the movement of said member to throw on the impression being produced by the shifting of the cam into its other position, and the driveof said member by said cam being irreversible whereby said cam remains in one position until shifted into its other'position by the cam-shifting means.

2.. In a rotary printing machine, a member that oscillates continuously during theoperation of the machine, a cam adapted to be shifted. on its axis between two positions, a pawl mounted upon said member that is controlled by the feed of sheets to move between two positions relative to said member, said pawl when in oneposition engaging said cam to shift said cam into one position, and when in its other position engaging said cam to shift said cam into its other position, said pawl being moved into position to shift said cam into one position on cessation of normal feedandbeing moved into position to shift said cam into its other position on resumption of normal feed,

and a movable member bearing against said cam that throws ofi the impression when moved in one direction and throws on the impression when moved in the opposite direction, the movement of said member to throw off the impression being produced by the shifting of the cam into oneposition, and the movement of said member to throw on the impression being produced by the shifting of the cam into its other position, and the drive of said member by said cam being irreversible whereby said cam remains in one position until shifted into its other position by said pawl.

3. In a rotary printing machine, a member that oscillates continuously during the operation of the machine, a cam adapted to be shifted on its axis between two positions, having two studs, a pawl mounted upon said member that is controlled by the feed of sheets to move between two positions relative to said member, said pawl when in one position engaging one stud to shift said cam into one position, and when in its other position engaging the other stud to shift said cam into its other position, said pawl being moved into position to shift said cam into one position on. cessation of normal feed and being. moved into cam into one position, and the movement of said lever to throw on the impression being produced by the shifting of the cam into its other position, and the drive of said lever by said cam being irre- 5 versible whereby said cam remains in one position until shifted into its other position by said pawl.

ANGUS MURRAY HALLEY. 

